The spin about MacGill

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Stuart MacGill knew that if he did not do well in the Sydney
Test, the Australian selectors' revived experiment with two leg
spinners would swiftly be declared dead and buried.

Instead, according to captain Ricky Ponting and MacGill's
leg-spinning rival Shane Warne, it is alive and well. Just don't
expect the pair to turn their tricks together again any time
soon.

MacGill, who appeared slightly embarrassed at being chosen ahead
of Ponting as man of the match by his home-town chief executive
Dave Gilbert, did indeed do well, capturing five Pakistani wickets
in the first innings of his return Test and eight for the match.
So, too, did Warne, taking 4-111 from his 26 overs in the second
innings.

Ponting said Warne and MacGill had learnt to bowl together, but
did not expect they would do so in next month's Test series in New
Zealand, for which MacGill hopes to be included in the touring
party.

The policy of playing Warne and MacGill together was thought to
have lost its appeal after MacGill was dropped during last year's
tour of Sri Lanka, and then excluded from the tour of India. It was
seen as proof that they lacked variety, but since then there has
ostensibly been a change of heart.

In eight matches together before the Test won by Australia
yesterday, Warne had taken 33 wickets at 30 runs each and MacGill
36 wickets at 24. This week against Pakistan they took 13 between
them.

"Shane's a more economical bowler that generally bowls very good
line and makes it hard for the batsmen to score, but still has that
great wicket-taking ability," Ponting said. "Stuey's the other way.
He believes every time he bowls he's going to get a wicket, if that
means that he gives away a few extra runs, then so be it.

"You can still bowl them together and have a bit of confidence
that you're not going to be scored off heavily at both ends,
because you know Shane's going to keep it reasonably tight. It's
actually very enjoyable and a great thing to have both those guys
in your side, especially in these conditions."

It is an important qualifier, for conditions in New Zealand will
not offer the same help as the SCG.

"It's unusual for us of late to have played the two leg spinners
in the same team, and we needed to have another bowler in the side
to bring Stuey in," Ponting said.

"It worked out in this game, but going to NZ the wickets there
will probably be flatter and won't turn as much as this one, so
playing two leg spinners there will probably be unlikely."

Warne regained his rhythm after being overshadowed by MacGill in
the first innings, and captured the wicket of opener Yasir Hameed,
leg before for 63, along with three others.

"I thought it worked pretty well," Warne said. "We're very lucky
(that) if we do get in these spinning conditions we can bring in
someone like Stuey who, every time he comes in as the spin bowler
on turning tracks, he does well. We're very lucky we have that
package.

"Stuey and I get along fine, contrary to what some people think.
The comparison is always going to be there, which I think is unfair
on Stuey. We've got a guy here who, if I wasn't around, would be
playing a lot of Test cricket and doing a very good job. That's not
my fault, either."